High Sierra Energy Foundation Changes the Way We Think

Lots of talk from Washington to the Eastern Sierra about how to save energy and reduce greenhouse gases. A local group has worked patiently and quietly to make a difference here. So far, the High Sierra Energy Foundation has done the work to save $600,000 worth of electricity in Mammoth Lakes over three years. Their efforts will now spread to the rest of the Eastern Sierra.

Director of the Foundation, Rick Phelps said that the mission was to promote and development renewables and energy efficiency in the Eastern Sierra. Phelps said that the first of next year, a partnership with Edison will expand into Inyo County. Plus, at a meeting of the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments, officials agreed to apply for stimulus money with the help of the High Sierra Energy Foundation – nearly $200,000 for the two counties.

All these efforts will mean energy and money savings for government and individual. Phelps said the Foundation will keep detailed information on results. More dollars will stay locally in the economy.

Phelps talked about the work of the Foundation. He said, I measure it in terms of creating a culture of energy consciousness or energy efficiency, where if we can get people to think about how they use energy, even in very small ways, when you add that up across the population, you have a very significant result.

Phelps said if you take little steps and you recognize a culture, you think differently. To find out more go to www.highsierraenergy.org.

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About Benett Kessler

Always interested in writing, Benett was the editor of her high school paper, proceeded to the University of Chicago and then out West where she and John Heston formed Eastern Sierra News Service in Inyo County. They fed film to KNXT in Los Angeles and co-wrote and produced the first daily radio news in the Eastern Sierra. Their work ranged from a published news magazine to the first television newscast. They continued to provide videotaped news to KABC and other news outlets. After a seat on the Mammoth Times board and work as newswriter, Benett formed her own company, Sierra Broadcasters and launched an FM radio station, now KSRW and a broadcast television station, KSRW-TV33. The latest addition - Sierrawave.net. Her company motto: Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.